Mickey Plyler: The Sham

The following is the latest post on Mickey Plyler's blog. Plyler updates his blog at least once every weekday and it can be found on TigerNet at http://www.tigernet.com/blogs/plyler/ or on the right side of the front page of TigerNet.

The Sham

It did not take yesterday’s news to let us know that the Heisman Trophy is a sham but the evidence confirmed my thoughts about the process again yesterday.

It did not take FSU going to the Gator Bowl to let us know the bowl system is broken but that news was reaffirmed Monday.

College football is the best team sport for the first three months of each season and among the worst in its final month. Playoffs should take the place of bowls. Bowl tie-ins should be dropped and the bowl should reward the regular season instead of rewarding its bottom line.

On the Heisman front, I can make an argument for C.J. Spiller because I think he is the best player in the country. His 1,145 yards rushing, 445 yards receiving, 918 return yards and 20 touchdowns convinced me he deserved the trip to New York.

Last year Sam Bradford won the award and he deserved it but I could have made a case last season for Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell. It would have been difficult to argue with any of the top four candidates a year ago but this year I can make good arguments against each of the five that were invited to New York.

Colt McCoy completed fewer passes for fewer yards with a lower percentage for fewer touchdowns and more interceptions this year than he did last year. He threw for fewer than 300 yards in eight of his games this season. In the two biggest games of the season (Oklahoma and Nebraska) McCoy passed for 127 yards and 184 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Sound like a Heisman winner?

Ndamukong Suh had one great game this year when he had 12 tackles and 4.5 sacks against Texas in the Big 12 title game. But for the regular season he had only 7.5 sacks. He did not have a sack in five of his games. He had more than six tackles in only five games this year. Against Oklahoma he had four tackles and against Kansas he had three.

Mark Ingram had a good year but he was held under 100 yards rushing in five games this season. Against his arch rival, Auburn, Ingram had 16 rushes for 30 yards and no touchdowns. Ingram had two games this season where he rushed for more than 150 yards. I am not sure Alabama misses a beat when second team running back Trent Richardson enters the game.

Toby Gerhart had a great year, but I am skeptical of him because the only time I saw him play an entire game was when Wake Forest held him to 82 yards on 17 carries and no touchdowns. The only thing that stands out is his 311 carries.

But the biggest sham of the ceremony this season is Tim Tebow. I am not sure what impressed voters more, the fact that he did not throw for more than 255 yards in any game this season or the fact that he had only two games where he rushed for more than 100 yards this year with one being against Florida International. Even the most biased Florida fan would tell you that Tebow did not play well this season compared to his other seasons.

I felt like we lost another football game yesterday when I got the news Spiller would not be going to New York. Most fans I talk to felt the same way and wish there was something that could be done.

At least Spiller handled it with class. “I certainly wanted to make it to New York for the Heisman presentation. It would have been great for this football program and Clemson University in general. But, I have done the best I could in every game. I have no regrets,” he said/

“I want to especially thank the Clemson fans for their support. I know they came out in great numbers in the fan voting poll (Spiller finished second in that poll) and have been very supportive of me my entire career.

“I want to thank all my teammates, especially the offensive line.

“We have one game left. We have not won a bowl game since I have been at Clemson. The seniors want to go out with a win.”

Classy quotes from a classy kid.

2010 Personnel

I have received some e-mails about Clemson’s juniors with concerns about the NFL draft. I am sure several of the juniors will ask for their evaluation but at this point I really can’t see any junior leaving. I would not be surprised to see DeAndre McDaniel, Chris Hairston and Jarvis Jenkins submit their paperwork to see where would stand but I think all three need to come back to school.

McDaniel got off to a great start this past season but he did not play as well coming down the stretch. I thought his open field tackling became a weakness in November. Also the safety class is deep with high ranking safeties at Tennessee, Texas and Southern Call ranking ahead of McDaniel at a position that is normally not a big draft position in the higher rounds.

I think we could hear something on Willy Korn soon. I would not be surprised if that came after exams. I would think that Mason Cloy and J.K. Jay will still be rehabbing through the summer with their injuries so that would be a concern.

Like almost every other year I could see a couple of players transfer out of the program or not return to school but recruiting is the only other personnel area where the roster may change for 2010.